Inter-locking wall construction



Oct. 16, 1956 G. J. DANIELSON 2,756,483

INTER LQCKING WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed May 20, 1952 s sne'e'ts-sheet 2INVENTOR. Gustav J. Dunielson HTTOENE Y5 Oct. 16, 1956 G. J. DANIELSONINTER-LOCKING WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed May 20, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTQR. Gustav J. Damelson ATTORNEYS United States PatentINTER-LOCKING WALL CONSTRUCTION Gustav J. Danielson, Seattle, Wash.assignor to Joseph H. Bluechel, Seattle, Wash.

Application May 20, 1952, Serial No. 288,838

2 Claims. (Cl. 20-4) This invention relates to building construction andit has reference more particularly to improvements in the constructionof and means for effecting the Weather-tight assembly and the rigid andsecure interlocking of adjoining wall forming sections as used in theconstruction of prefabricated wooden buildings; the present inventionbeing a modification of and an improvement upon the construction ofbuilding units, and in the manner of and means for eflecting the joiningand interlocking thereof, as disclosed in the application of AlfredSmith, filed December 26, 1948, under Serial No. 718,461 and now.abandoned.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide wooden wallforming units of panel form, in standardized and other predetermineddimensions, that can be readily assembled edge to edge, and rigidly andsecurely united; each section being characterized by providing it, alongits opposite vertical edge surfaces, with tongue and groove joiningportions that are adapted to be interfitted with the ,cornplementalparts of adjoining units to provide Weather sealed joints between theunits, and said units further being equipped on their adjoining verticaledge surfaces, with flange plates of special form that, in theassembling of units, are adapted to be engaged and interlocked in suchmanner as to draw the units firmly together, to maintain the tightsealing of joints and the rigid, interlocked connection of the units.

More specifically stated, the present invention resides in the detailsof construction of those particular parts of the prefabricated unitsthat are designed to be interfitted and interlocked to effect theweather tight sealing of joints; the rigid and secure joining ofadjacent sections and the protecting of the metal flange plates againstdamage.

Further objects and advantages of the invention reside in the particularrelationship of the flange plates, as applied along the center lines ofthe end surfaces of the various types of units, to the sealed tongue andgroove joints as extended longitudinally of the units at opposite sidesof the line of flange plates, thus to protect the plates againstmoisture and incident damage of rust and corrosion that would bedetrimental to their utility and life.

It is a further object of the invention to utilize flange plates of thinflat metal, and to so form, apply and secure them that they will beentirely within the limits of the interfitted joint sealing portions,thus not to be so eX- tended or exposed as to be subjected to possibledeforming damage, nor to cause damage by gouging contact with surfacesor parts of other units liable to occur during handling or assemblingoperations.

Furthermore, the invention has as an object, the practical utilizationof interlocking flange plates that are light in weight and of relativelylow cost, both in respect to manufacture and application which are easyto functionally apply and are exceptionally effective in their intendeduse.

vention reside in the details of construction of those surg f .Stillfurther objects andadvantages of the present in- "ice faces and partsthat are to be inter-fitted and joined, and which make possible theassembly of units of various kinds in a variety of ways, as may bedesired or required for various adaptations or types of buildings.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the application of thefeatures of the present invention to corner posts, as used for thejoining of the panel sections at right angles to each other, either atinside or outside corners.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention,I have provided the improved de tails of construction, the preferredforms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig, l is a perspective view showing a typical assembly of buildingunits embodying the features of the present invention therein.

Fig. 2 is an upper end view of a typical wall unit made according tothis invention.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of assembled wall forming unitsembodying the improvements of the present invention therein.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, taken through the jointbetween two assembled units that have been interlocked by the flangeplates of this invention.

Fig. 5 is a face view of one of the flange plates.

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the same.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view showing one manner of joiningcorner forming units.

Fig. 8 is an edge view of a wall forming unit as applied to a baseplate.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through adjoining wall sections asassembled with base and top plates.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a corner con struction,

The general embodiment of the present invention resides in the provisionof prefabricated wall forming units, panels or sections, inpredetermined and standardized sizes that renders them practical forstorage, hauling and handling, and which panels may be easily assembledon the job by inexperienced workmen. It has been found practical to makesuch wall sections in various widths to meet the usual requirements.Their height generally is uniform. Ordinary wall forming units are madeup of vertical studs to which inner and outer surface panels of suitablesheathing material are secured; these panels of sheathing being extendedbeyond the upper and lower ends of the studs to coact therewith in theformation of seats or channels designed to receive base and top plateswhereby the Wall sections after assembly, are held in proper alignment.

Some of the panels may include door and window openings, in which doorsand windows are fitted. Other panels may have special features ofconstruction embodied therein as required. However, the presentinvention is characterized by the features of construction that providefor the interfitting joining and interlocking of elements that are alongor are applied to the vertical edges of the adjoining units. Thesefeatures will hereinafter be fully described both as to details ofconstruction and mode of use.

Referring more in detail to the drawings-- In Fig. l, I have shown, inperspective view, some assembled wall forming units, or panels,embodying the novel features of the present invention. In this view,typical units designated generally at A and B are joined to form a rightangle corner, and other units designated at C and D are joined thereto;the unit'C having a window opening framed therein, and unit D having adoor opening framed therein. r

A typical wall unit is shown in end view in Fig.2. This corresponds tounit B of Fig.- 1. In its present preferred dimensions, this unit wouldbe four feet wide and seven feet eight inches high, and would comprisefour vertical studs joined across upper and lower ends by horizontalplates 3 and 3' as Well shown in Fig. 1. However, such units of lesserwidth or of greater width might have a more or less number cfintermediate studs.

In Fig. 2, I have designated the outside studs by reference numerals 1and 1a, and the intermediate studs by numerals 2 and 2'. To this corestructure, that is formed by the four studs and cross-plates, inner andouter panels of sheathing 4 and 4' are secured. The sheathing preferablyis plywood, /8" thick, glued or otherwise permanently secured to thestuds, and it will be understood by reference to Fig. 8 that thesheathing panels 4-4 extend beyond the upper and lower plates, for thereception between them of the base and top plates of the buildingstructure as presently described.

In order to hold the studs in proper spacing prior to the sheathingbeing glued thereto, it is desirable that strip, or cross-tie of wood,as at 3x in Fig. 1, be applied to the studs; this strip being set intothe studs flush with their outer surfaces. The position of these stripsis shown also in Figs. 8 and 9.

The inside studs 2-2 of this unit are plain, as they have nointerlocking requirements with any other part. The two studs, 1 and 1a,which are used at the opposite vertical edges of all the interlockingunits, are of special construction to make possible their beinginter-fitted and interlocked with the complemental parts of adjacentunits. The novel features of construction, as embodied in the variouspanels or units, will now be described.

It should be noted first that the studs 1 and In, as used in any unit,are set between the sheathing panels 4 and 4, flush with their verticaledge surfaces. Each stud 1 and 1a is formed on its exposed side surface,to the full length, with a projecting tongue 5; the tongue beingparallel to the adjacent side edge of the stud and slightly insettherefrom as best shown in Fig. 4. Also, formed in the exposed sidesurface of the stud, at the side of its longitudinal center lineopposite that containing the tongue, is a groove 6. This is designed toreceive therein the tongue of an adjoining section that is of the samedimensions of the tongue 5. Extending the full length of the exposedside of the surface of the stud, medially of the tongue 5 and groove 6,is a shallow channel 8 of substantial width.

To impart a better understanding of the features of construction,relationship and use of the present building units, reference isdirected to Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The studs 1 and 1a, preferably, are of theusual 2" x 4 dimensions. The tongue and groove of each stud are equallyinset from the adjacent longitudinal corner edges of the stud,preferably to about ,41", and each has a width of approximately Thechannel 8 has a width of /3, and a depth of about /s. Between thebounding edges of the channel and the tongue and groove of each of saidstuds, are flat surfaces, each about /4," wide, and the longitudinalmarginal portions of the side of the stud along the outer side of thetongue and groove being flat. In the stud surfacing operation, wherebythe tongue, groove and channel are formed, the flat surfaces at oppositesides of the channel 8 are cut below the plane of those outside of thetongue and groove about thus to give a desired clearance between thefaces of studs of assembled sections for containing the interlockingflange plates, as will presently be explained.

The studs 1 and 1a are alike in formation and in their application tothe various types of wall forming units. In every unit the tongue andgroove surfaces of the studs at opposite sides of the units are faced inopposite directions, as shown in Fig. 2. Therefore, in the assembling ofunits edge to edge, the tongue of each stud will be received in thegroove of the adjoining stud, and the channels 8 of the adjacent studswill register. Also, side surfaces of sheathing of adjoining units willbe in flush alignment.

It is the intent that the interfitting of tongues and grooves ofadjoining units shall effect the weather tight joining of the sections;will give rigidity to the structure and will help in keeping assembledsections in proper alignment. However, to maintain the interlockedrelationship and give the desired strength and rigidity to thestructure, I have provided each panel or section, along the end surfacesthat are formed by the studs 1 and 1a, with special flange plates thatare adapted to be brought into interlocking connection. The specialcharacter of these plates, their mode of application to the studs, andtheir use will now be described.

Each flange plate is herein designated in its entirety by referencenumeral 10. All are alike in size, shape and mode of application. Eachcomprises a rectangular plate of sheetinetal, as shown in Fig. 5, sobent approximately along a longitudinal center line, as to cause theparts thereof at opposite sides of the bend to be disposed in parallelplanes, but offset from each other sub stantially to the thickness ofthe plate as well shown in Fig. 4. The part of the plate at one side ofthe bend is designated as the flange, 10 and the part at the other sideof the bend is designated as the flange base, 10b; this latter partbeing formed with holes 11 through which anchor screws 12 are applied tosecure the plate to the stud. The plates 10 are fixed to the exposedside surfaces of the studs 1 and 1a, lengthwise thereof and in alignmentalong their longitudinal center lines. Also, they are spaced distancesthat are greater than the length of the plates. It has been found quitepractical, and adequate to attach three of the flange plates to eachstud in the manner shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Furthermore, the plates areattached at the same levels to all studs by disposing the parts 10bthereof flatly against those flat surfaces of the studs that areadjacent the insides of the tongues, as in Fig. 4, and with their flangeportions 10f overlying and outwardly spaced from the channel 8.Therefore, the flange plates 10 as applied to the adjoining studs ofadjacent units will have their flange portions, 10 so disposed that theycan be overlapped, one back of the other as shown in Fig. 4 to effectthe secure joining of adjacent units with the longitudinal flat marginalportions along the outer side of the tongue and groove of confrontingside joining surfaces of the units in abutting relation.

The present form of construction makes possible the easy assembling ofunits on a base plate as in Figs. 1 and 8, wherein 15 designates a floorand 16 a base plate secured thereon. The lower end portions of thesheathing panels 4-4' which extend beyond the lower ends of the studs 1,1a, 2 and 2, receive the plate 16 between them and can be nailedthereto. Likewise a top plate 17 is disposed between the extended upperend portions of the sheathing panels 44 of a plurality of assembledsections and this can be nailed to the studs and panels as indicated inFig. 9 to insure rigidity of construction.

To assemble two adjoining units or sections, they are first broughtproperly into edge to edge relationship for joining. Assuming that oneunit has been applied to a base plate, and properly secured, the otherunit is then raised relative thereto to dispose its flange plates 10intermediate the corresponding plates of the secured unit. Then thetongues and grooves of the adjoining studs of the two units areinterfitted as noted in Fig. 3, and the raised unit is then moveddirectly downward in such manner as to cause the flanges 10) of thethree plates 10 fixed thereto, to pass back of the flanges 10) of theplates fixed on the other, as has been illustrated in Fig. 9, thus tolock the sections together. It is preferred that the flanges 10] of theplates be just slightly curved or crowned in a lengthwise direction, asshown in a somewhat exaggerated manner in Fig. 6 so that in bringingthem to locked relationship by this relative endwise adjustment abovedescribed, a drawing action will be effected that causes the tongues tobe tightly seated in the grooves and the two units rigidly and securelyunited.

In Figs. 3 and I have shown a built up corner post embodying the presentimprovements and adapted for the joining of walls of inside or outsidecorners. The post 20, in its final form is square in cross section, withdimensions that correspond to the width of studs of the side wallsections plus the thickness of the inside sheathing panel, for thepurpose shown in Fig. 3. it is formed on two adjoining sides withsurfaces substantially like the outer surfaces of the studs 1 and 1a,and is likewise equipped with flange plates 10. The other two sides ofthe post have strips 21 of plywood sheathing attached thereto to matchup with the inner and outer sheathing panels of adjoining units. Themode of attaching wall forming units to this corner post is the same asused in the joining of adjacent wall units and the advantages andresults are comparable.

Units that are to contain door or window openings are constructedsubstantially in the same manner as are the common wall units, but theopening is framed in for reception of a door or window. In Fig. 3, awindow containing unit is designated at 25 and a door containing unit isdesignated at 26. These correspond to the window and door unitsdesignated by references C and D in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 illustrates a modification of the corner post construction,utilizing the present flange plates for joining corner forming panels.

After the various units of a wall have been properly assembled andsecured to the base plate, a top plate is applied between the extendedupper end edges of the sheathing and nailed therein, thus to give addedrigidity to the wall and maintain alignment of the sections. Ceilingsand roofs of various forms may be applied to meet requirements.

Such mode of assembly and securement of units insures weather-tightjoints between units, as well as secure, holding connections.Furthermore, since the flange plates 10 are located between the twolongitudinal joints as formed by the interfitted tongues and grooves,they are adequately protected against moisture that might cause rustingor corrosion, and are also protected against bending damage thereto, ortheir possible damage to other objects.

The present means for uniting wall units is relatively inexpensive toapply; they are effective in use and are so disposed on their studs thatthey are out of the way and do not interfere with easy handling of theunits.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wall structure comprising a plurality of preformed panels disposedin coplanar relationship, each panel including a wooden framework andfacing sheets on opposite sides thereof, the vertical side edges of saidpanels being joined in face to 'face relationship, the vertical edges ofeach panel each having a tongue and a groove disposed in spaced verticalparallelism and spaced inwardly from the opposite outer faces of thepanel, the respective tongues and grooves on the contacting side edgesof adjacent panels being in engaging relationship and the contactingside edges of each panel also having fiat coplanar marginal edgeportions on opposite sides thereof, each defined between a respectivetongue and groove and a respective outer face of the panel with thetongue and the groove projecting respectively outwardly and inwardly ofsuch marginal portions, a vertically extending channel disposed betweenand in spaced parallelism with the tongue and groove, and flatlongitudinal edge portions defined respectively between the oppositesides of the channel and the adjacent tongue and groove, each suchlongitudinal edge portion being inset from said marginal edge portionsso that opposed longitudinal edge portions of adjacent panels aredisposed in spaced relation, an elongate plate secured to each verticalside edge, each such plate having a flange base secured to onelongitudinal edge portion within the aforementioned space definedbetween such longitudinal edge portion and the corresponding portion ofthe adjacent panel and having a flange overlying its associated channeland outwardly offset from said flange base to be disposed within thechannel of the adjacent panel edge, and said plates being in alignmentsuch that the flanges of plates on adjacent panel edges are interlockedbehind each other to retain such edges in face to face contact. I

2. The wall structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the outwardly olfsetflange of each plate is inwardly curved longitudinally toward the panelto which it is attached between the upper and lower edges thereofwhereby the curved flanges coact against each other to hold the panelsin tight face to face contact.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS205,832 Brown July 9, 1878 333,903 Totman Jan. 5, 1886 854,656 Leske May21, 1907 911,217 Doty Feb. 2, 1909 2,414,060 Rausch Jan. 7, 19472,664,740 Cochrane Jan. 5, 1954 2,703,912 Tinnerman et al Mar. 15, 1955FOREIGN PATENTS 3,782 Great Britain Nov. 22, 1906 86,578 Austria Dec.10, 1921

